Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Bear Lake experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 49.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 114.2 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 1,554 feet.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-4°C)69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average
47.1°F
13% below US avg
January Average
24°F (-4°C)
July Average
69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days
275 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
1,554 ft (474 m)
Area
0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Population Density
191/sq mi
Coordinates
41.9934°N, 79.5013°W
Timezone
America/New_York
County
Warren County County
Nearest Airport
Erie International/Tom Ridge Field (ERI) 35 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall49.0"
29% above US avg
Snowfall114.2"
Wettest Month (Jun)4.69"
Driest Month (Feb)2.60"
Air Quality
AQI Median
40.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
65.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
50.9 / 100
Community Resilience
79.8 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Hurricane
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
No Rating
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
26 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M4.5.
Sep 25, 1998
2 km SW of Adamsville, Pennsylvania
M4.5
92 km
5 km
Jan 26, 2001
8 km NNW of Edgewood, Ohio
M3.9
108 km
5 km
Feb 6, 2023
1 km NE of West Seneca, New York
M3.8
113 km
6 km
Jun 30, 2003
6 km NW of Perry, Ohio
M3.6
142 km
5 km
Oct 16, 1993
8 km SSE of Madison, Ohio
M3.6
129 km
5 km
Aug 28, 2023
7 km SE of Madison, Ohio
M3.6
125 km
5 km
Mar 15, 1992
15 km NW of North Perry, Ohio
M3.5
145 km
5 km
Jun 20, 2006
9 km WNW of North Perry, Ohio
M3.5
144 km
5 km
Jun 3, 2001
3 km N of Edgewood, Ohio
M3.4
105 km
5 km
Jun 30, 2004
2 km WNW of Madison, Ohio
M3.3
133 km
5 km
Jul 1, 2013
5 km NNW of Fairport Harbor, Ohio
M3.2
150 km
5 km
Apr 25, 2010
2 km WNW of Madison, Ohio
M3.0
133 km
5 km
May 25, 1995
3 km NW of Amherst, New York
M3.0
124 km
5 km
Jun 16, 2004
11 km NNW of Angola on the Lake, New York
M2.9
92 km
6 km
Jun 5, 2009
4 km SSE of Attica, New York
M2.9
139 km
5 km
Feb 23, 1995
3 km W of Ashtabula, Ohio
M2.9
111 km
5 km
Mar 28, 2005
16 km NW of Virgil, Canada
M2.8
149 km
7 km
Mar 8, 2008
5 km ENE of Clarence Center, New York
M2.7
138 km
6 km
Jan 20, 2001
0 km NNW of Edgewood, Ohio
M2.6
106 km
5 km
Mar 15, 2022
5 km SSW of Warsaw, New York
M2.6
136 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
175 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 30 fatalities, 260 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 31, 1985
EF4
50 km
29.0 mi
7
May 31, 1985
EF4
38 km
28.0 mi
0
May 31, 1985
EF4
56 km
29.0 mi
4
May 31, 1985
EF4
89 km
14.0 mi
12
May 31, 1985
EF3
39 km
8.0 mi
0
May 31, 1985
EF3
23 km
13.0 mi
0
May 31, 1985
EF3
35 km
17.0 mi
0
May 31, 1985
EF3
63 km
23.0 mi
2
May 2, 1983
EF3
20 km
28.0 mi
2
May 2, 1972
EF3
83 km
7.9 mi
0
Jun 2, 1971
EF3
54 km
29.3 mi
0
Aug 19, 1970
EF3
91 km
2.3 mi
0
Jun 20, 1969
EF3
11 km
84.1 mi
0
Jul 24, 1967
EF3
83 km
11.4 mi
0
Sep 3, 1963
EF3
90 km
8.4 mi
0
May 15, 1961
EF3
75 km
3.0 mi
0
Jul 10, 2024
EF2
87 km
3.2 mi
0
Apr 14, 2019
EF2
29 km
18.0 mi
0
Oct 2, 2018
EF2
76 km
4.1 mi
0
Oct 2, 2018
EF2
99 km
4.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
Highest wave on record: 2.7 m (9 ft).
Year
Location
Cause
Max Wave
Deaths
Distance
1823
LAKE ERIE
Unknown
2.7 m
—
128 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
2 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: UNNAMED (628 acres, 1990).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
1990
UNNAMED
628
52 km
2021
UNNAMED
586
43 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
24°F (-4°C)
2.9 in
February
24°F (-5°C)
2.6 in
Coldest, Driest
March
33°F (1°C)
3.3 in
April
44°F (7°C)
3.6 in
May
55°F (13°C)
3.9 in
June
64°F (18°C)
4.7 in
Wettest
July
69°F (21°C)
4.5 in
Warmest
August
67°F (19°C)
4.5 in
September
60°F (15°C)
4.3 in
October
49°F (9°C)
3.9 in
November
38°F (4°C)
4.4 in
December
28°F (-2°C)
4.0 in
Bear Lake has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 24°F in February to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.3 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.7") and February the driest (2.6").